LUMUT CAMP, Monday, 13 June 2022 – The opening ceremony of the Exercise PAHLAWAN WARRIOR 2022 was held today at the Third Battalion Royal Brunei Land Force (3Bn RBLF) Parade Square. The exercise will take place from 13 June 2022 until 24 June 2022, involving a total of 208 officers and personnel from United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) and 3Bn RBLF.
Present to officiate the exercise was Colonel Michael A. Van Welie, Deputy Commanding General of Interoperability, 25th Infantry Division. Also, in attendance were, The Honourable Mr Derek Chollet, Counselor of the US Department of State; Her Excellency Ambassador Caryn R. McClelland, Ambassador United States to Brunei Darussalam; Lieutenant Colonel Haji Mohammad Shanonnizam bin Sulaiman, Chief of Staff RBLF (COS RBLF); and Lieutenant Commander Samuel Kim, United States Navy, Chief of the Office of Defence Cooperation, US Embassy in Brunei Darussalam.
The ceremony commenced with the parade’s salute of honour commanded by Major Hisham bin Haji Mahmud, followed by an inspection of the guards by Colonel Michael A. Van Welie. The ceremony continued with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah followed by the welcoming remarks by COS RBLF, in which he welcomed the US delegation as well as the personnel from USARPAC and hoped that the bilateral exercise would further strengthen the relationship and cooperation between the two nations and armies.
The unit’s flag handover was then conducted by the Executive Officer of 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Squadron to Second-in-Command of 3Bn RBLF and followed by the officiating of Exercise PAHLAWAN WARRIOR 2022 by Colonel Michael A. Van Welie. The ceremony proceeded with a Doa and photo session before the US delegation headed to the 3Bn RBLF Officers’ Mess for refreshments, ending the ceremony with the signing of parchment.
Exercise PAHLAWAN WARRIOR 2022 is the second army-to-army bilateral exercise between RBLF and the USARPAC after it’s initiation in 2018. During the exercise, RBLF personnel will take lead in the jungle warfare phase, whereas personnel from USARPAC will take the lead in the military operations in urban terrain tactics. This exercise is aimed at enhancing cooperation and friendship between the two armies through the professional sharing of knowledge and experience at all levels.
PEMBUKAAN EKSESAIS PAHLAWAN WARRIOR 2022
PERKHEMAHAN LUMUT, Isnin, 13 Jun 2022 – Upacara Pembukaan Eksesais PAHLAWAN WARRIOR 2022 telah diadakan pada hari ini bertempat di Padang Kawad Batalion Ketiga Tentera Darat Diraja Brunei (3Bn TDDB). Eksesais tersebut berlangsung dari 13 Jun 2022 hingga 24 Jun 2022, melibatkan seramai 208 pegawai dan anggota dari United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) dan 3Bn TDDB.
Hadir bagi merasmikan Eksesais Pahlawan Warrior 2022 ialah Kolonel Michael A. Van Welie, Deputy Commanding General of Interoperability, 25th Infantry Division. Turut hadir menyaksikan upacara pembukaan tersebut ialah Yang Terhormat Derek Chollet, Counselor of the US Department of State; Puan Yang Terutama Caryn R. McClelland, Duta Besar Amerika Syarikat; Leftenan Kolonel Haji Mohammad Shanonnizam bin Sulaiman, Ketua Staf TDDB (KS TDDB); dan Leftenan Komander Samuel Kim, United States Navy, Chief of the Office of Defence Cooperation Kedutaan Amerika Syarikat di Brunei Darussalam.
Majlis dimulakan dengan tabik hormat daripada perbarisan yang diketuai oleh Mejar Hisham bin Haji Mahmud dan diikuti dengan pemeriksaan kawalan oleh Kolonel Michael A. Van Welie. Majlis diteruskan dengan bacaan Surah Al-Fatihah dan disusuli dengan ucapan alu-aluan daripada KS TDDB yang mana beliau mengalu-alukan kedatangan delegasi daripada Amerika Syarikat serta anggota-anggota USARPAC dan berharap eksesais dua hala ini akan mengeratkan lagi hubungan dan kerjasama di antara kedua buah negara dan angkatan darat.
Penyerahan bendera unit kemudiannya dilaksanakan oleh Pegawai Eksekutif Skuadron Ke 3, Skuadron Berkuda Ke 4 kepada Timbalan Pegawai Pemerintah 3Bn TDDB dan diikuti dengan perasmian Eksesais PAHLAWAN WARRIOR2022 oleh Kolonel Michael A. Van Welie. Majlis diteruskan dengan bacaan Doa dan sesi bergambar ramai sebelum delegasi AS beredar ke Mes Pegawai 3Bn TDDB untuk menikmati jamuan, upacara diakhiri dengan penandatanganan lembaran kenangan.
Eksesais PAHLAWAN WARRIOR 2022 adalah latihan dua hala yang dikendalikan kali kedua di antara TDDB dan USARPAC semenjak 2018. Dalam eksesais tersebut, anggota TDDB akan mengetuai latihan dalam fasa peperangan hutan manakala anggota USARPAC akan mengetuai latihan bagi operasi ketenteraan dalam urban terrain tactics. Latihan ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kerjasama dan persahabatan di antara kedua buah tentera melalui perkongsian ilmu dan pengalaman di semua peringkat.